In 2025, we welcomed Esme Eaton to the team on a student placement, where she gained insight into the process of organising community events, installation exhibitions and supporting artists. As part of her placement she also developed a new sound work inspired by Sandwell's green spaces.
"I was inspired by Multistory’s support of green spaces in Sandwell to create a sound-art composition that captures the importance of nature for people’s wellbeing in urban environments.
The composition ‘Sitting by the duck pond’ therefore explores the contrast between the busy traffic sounds on Reform Street and the tranquillity of the boating lake in Dartmouth Park. I wanted to highlight how the park provides West Bromwich with a haven of nature, in the midst of its noisy urban landscape. To help develop my project, Jess Piette (Multistory’s Project Manager) introduced me to the practice of psychogeography, which focuses on recording the emotional quality of places, and how its geography affects the wellbeing of individuals and communities. While I would usually only work with recorded sound, this encouraged me to introduce pitched material in the piece, to capture the emotions I felt visiting Dartmouth Park in a more tangible way.
While sitting by the duck pond, I was struck by the different textures on the surface of the water. Layers of algae carpeted the corners of the lake, while the wind rippled over its surface, creating glittering shimmers in the sunlight. The twinkling water made me feel calm and contemplative, emotions I have tried to evoke in my piece. The minute shifts in texture and movement over the lake were spontaneous and organic, which inspired me to compose more freely, by including bursts of different sounds here and there.
My piece is best enjoyed through headphones or stereo speakers as I have used panning to create an immersive soundscape. Perhaps, you could listen to the piece with your eyes closed, picturing your favourite park or green space and imagine how it makes you feel. I have also included pictures I took of the lake while I composed it, which could help stimulate your experience of the piece." Esme
